The liver is the workhorse of the human body, fulfilling such a wide range of roles that our overall health is in large part a reflection of the liver’s health. Yet, for a variety of reasons—not the least of which include its spongy consistency, intimate association with bile, and inescapable reputation as a garbage disposal—the liver is also one of our most under-appreciated organs.

Anterior and posterior views of the liver. (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)

Wedged beneath the lower right rib cage and occupying much of the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, the liver is the largest organ in the human body. In adults, it weighs between 2.6 and 3.5 pounds and measures about 8 inches across, being smaller in women and larger in men.

The liver is also the most complex organ in the body in terms of function. The work of the liver can be divided into three primary categories: metabolism, filtration of blood, and secretion. Its metabolic functions include the breakdown of nutrients and drugs brought to the liver in blood coming from the intestinal tract. Once broken down into useful components, the substances are either transported by the blood from the liver to other tissues or are stored in the liver for future use. An example of a stored nutrient is glycogen, which remains in the liver until it is summoned and released to supply energy needs.

Microscopic structure of the liver. (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)

The liver serves a very important role as a vascular filter. Some 1,450 milliliters of blood circulate through the liver every minute, and during that time, the organ not only extracts wastes and toxic matter from the blood but also regulates overall blood volume. The extensive network of blood vessels within the lobes of the liver can hold about 10 percent of the body’s blood volume. The volume of blood it stores is determined primarily by the pressure of blood entering and leaving the organ, with low pressures triggering the release of stored blood and vice versa.

In addition, each day the liver secretes roughly one quart of bile, which contains bile salts that facilitate the digestion of fats. Bile also plays a central role in waste removal, picking up waste products from the blood and transporting them through a series of ducts for excretion through the intestine. Jaundice—a yellowing of the eyes and skin, often occurring in newborns—arises as a result of overproduction of bile, blockage of bile movement through the liver’s duct system, or leakage of bilirubin (the pigment of bile) into the bloodstream.

Human liver in relation to other organs. (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)

A variety of other conditions can affect the liver, among the most common of which include cancer, certain hereditary disorders (e.g., glycogen storage diseases), and drug-induced damage. Because of its proficiency in metabolizing alcohol, the liver is also the primary site of damage from alcohol consumption, with cirrhosis being a common manifestation of alcoholism.